Shingle-cutting machine.



c. WARWICK. SHINGLE CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED APR. 30, 1910.

984,624, V Patented Feb.21, 1911.

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THE NORRIS PETERS cu, WASHINGTON. we.

o. WARWICK. SHINGL E CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIOATIION FILED APVBHQO, 1910.

"Patnted Feb. 21, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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114s NORRIS PETERS C01, WASHINGTON. 11 c.

UNETE 3 SHINGLE-CUTTING MACHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed April 30, 1910. Serial No. 558,697.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES VVARWIGK, citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Shingle- Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shingle cutting machine wherein the shingles are cut from the block by means of a thin bladed knife, the block having been first steamed to soften the fiber.

My improvements are directed to the means for supporting and operating the knife blade in a manner that while a downward slicing or oblique movement is imparted to it the edge of the blade moves at all times parallel to the support on which the block rests; to the means for supporting and feeding the block against the stops which de termine the thickness of the shingle to be out; to the manner of oscillating the stop frame to cut a shingle of tapered thickness and to reverse the side from which the feather edge of the shingle is cut and for the means for imparting to-the stops a vertical movement corresponding to that of the knife blade.

There are also several other features in the construction of the machine to which attention will be drawn in the course of the clamp by which the feed frame is secured during the cut, Fig. 5 is a section through the machine on the line A A in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6 is a section on an enlarged scale through the front end of the shingle block support adjacent to the stops showing the flap on which the cut shingle is received and which tilts to clear itself of fragments and splinters, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the same part showing the means by which the flap is operated, Fig. 8 is a plan of the crosshead which connects the stop rods and to which the connecting rod is attached by which the vertical movement is imparted to them, Fig. 9 is a plan of the crosshead and lever by which the oscillating movement is imparted to the feed stops and the cam by which the lever is operated, and Fig. 10, a section on the line B B in Fig. 8 showing the cam and its engagement with the end of the lever.

In these drawings 2 represents the supporting frame of the machine the design of which may be varied to comply with the requirements of the mechanism without departing from the spirit of the invention. A table frame 3 is carried by this frame on which table is secured the shingle block slide 4 over which the shingle block is fed to the knife and this slide is provided with a flange along one side to retain the shingle block 5 against the oblique thrust of the knife.

Obliquely crossing the end of the table 3 in a vertical plane at an angle of approXimately forty-five degrees and secured to the frames 2 and 3 at 6 6 are guide rods 7 on which the open frame 12 which carries the knife blade 10 is endwise slidable on guides 11 secured to the sides of the knife frame 12. A thin knife blade 10 is secured to this frame so that its cutting edge is parallel to the plane of the table 3 and its shingle block slide 4.

The power to reciprocate the knife frame 12 is applied to the center of one end of the frame and may be derived from a direct acting steam cylinder, or, as shown in the drawings, by a connecting rod 15 from a crank pin 16 011 a disk secured to a shaft 17 which is driven by a belt over a pulley 18. By this means a downward slicing movement is imparted to the knife blade 10 the cutting edge of which moves at all times parallel to the upper surface of the slide 4 on which the shingle block rests, and by the application of the power to the center of the end of the knife frame the cutting effort passes through the center of the length of the blade.

The shingle block 5 is securely held and is fed up to its out by an effort applied through two knife edged grips 20, shown in plan in Fig. 3. The knife edges of the grip are forced into engagement with the end wood of the block 5 by a hand lever 23 pivoted at 24 and connected to one of the levers 21 on which the knife edges are secured, the other grip lever 21 being adjustable for variation in the length of the block by a bolt 26 in an elongated slot in the support. The grips 20 are thus adapted when forced together to securely hold the block 5 as close as practicable to the back edge and the block may thus be sliced close up to the holding grip.

The plate 27 to which the grip levers 21 are pivoted at 22 is supported on parallel links 28 which are pivotally connected to the plate 27 and to a parallel base plate 29. The base plate 29 is slidably mounted so as to be susceptible of vertical movement on a column 30 and the weight of the frame and its connected parts are counterbalanced by a weight 31 slidable on the same column and connected by cords or chains over small sheaves secured to the frame of the machine. A flexible feed frame is thus provided that will adapt itself to varying sizes of shingle blocks and susceptible of being moved to feed a shingle block to the knife for each cut. This feed pressure may be applied in any approved manner that will move the block against the stops 40 to be described later which determine the thickness and taper of the shingle to be cut and that will at the same time admit of the feed frame being locked to secure the block in the position to which it is fed while the knife blade is in contact with the block.

The feed pressure is here shown as applied by a counterweight 32 connected by a line or chain over a sheave to a slot-ted rod 33 through the slot of which passes a member 34 in the center of the feed frame and pivotally connected to it so as to be susceptible of corresponding movement. this slotted rod 33 is provided with a pivotally mounted hand lever 35 by which the feed frame and grips may be withdrawn or advanced from and to the stops as when introducing a fresh block.

In order that the feed pressure may not be maintained against the knife blade during its movement and to insure that the block be firmly held during the cut means is provided for locking the feed frame in the position to which it is set while the blade is performing its out and returning from it. This is attained by providing two clamping bars 36 one on each side of the central member 34. These clamp bars 36 are secured to one another and to the frame at one end but are free from one another though supported by the frame of the machine at the other end and are so placed in relation to the central member 34 that that member may freely move between them unless they are pinched together on the interposed member 34. The

The end of bars are normally pinched together, see

Figs. 2 and 4, by a weighted lever 37 fulcrumed at 39 to a band which passes around both bars and having an end such that when the weighted lever is not sustained will bear against the bar 36 adjacent to it and will clamp them together.

Normally the weighted lever is free to act to clamp the bars 39 and lock the frame but depending from the upper end of the knife frame 12 is a stirrup strap 41 such that as the knife frame approaches the upper limit of its movement it will engage and lift the weighted lever 37 and thusleave the feed frame free to be pulled forward by the feed weight 32.

In order that the thickness and taper of the shingles to be cut may be uniformly determined the feed pressure must feed the shingle block 5 against a positive stop situated at such a distance on the other side of the cutting plane of the knife as will give the desired thickness and this stop is turned in relation to the cutting plane that the shingle may have the required feather edge and thick edge. In order that the block may be uniformly out the feather edge and thick edge should alternate with each other on each side of the block. Further the stops should not offer a broad surface in contact with the block and should be just below the cutting edge of the knife, to allow the cut shingle to fall away from it and must therefore be movable vertically downward with the knife or in correspondence with the vertical component of its oblique movement.

To comply with these complex requirements the stop frame is constructed and operated as follows: The stop consists. of two stop rods 40 connected together at the required distance apart by a cross member e5 to which the rods are secured which cross member is itself slidable on a column 46 secured to the frame of the machine in a vertical position just in front of the plane of the knife cut and at the head of this column adjacent to the shingle block slide 4 a similar cross member 47 is secured in a manner that it may oscillate on the column but is not susceptible of endwise movement on it while the rods 40 are endwise slidable through its ends. This constitutes the stop frame and the necessary provision for its double movement, provision being made in the bearings of the column 46 for adjustment ofthe column in its distance from the cutting plane of the knife 10.

Vertical movement is imparted to this frame 40 45, from a crank pin 48 on a crank secured on the end of a shaft 49 which is driven by a sprocket chain from the shaft 17 which imparts movement to the knife frame, so that the movement of the stop frame will correspond to the vertical com- 'ponent of the movement of the knife frame.

40 4:5 through a cross member 55 which is bottom of its movement that it may be clear To enable the crank pin 18 to be connected with the knife frame in a mannerl that the stop frame may be free to oscillate, connection is made by an open frame 50 to a pin 51 projecting from a sleeve 52 susceptible of endwise movement on the column 46 but prevented from angular movement thereon by a feather and feather way. On this sleeve 52 is mounted a crosshead 53 so as to be susceptible of angular movement 011 it to the ends of which crosshead are secured the stop rods 40. Vertical movement is thus imparted to the cross rods 40 while their frame is free to oscillate on the driving connection.

Oscillation is imparted to the stop frame mounted on a sleeve 56 secured to the column {L6, and through the ends of this cross member 55 the stop rods 40 are slidab'le. From the mid-length of the cross member 55 anarm 57 projects to which arm is secured in a manner that will permit of angular adjustment a T member 58 having downward projections 59 adjustable on it. These projections 59 engage in the face groove of a cam 60 which is secured on the end of a vertical shaft 61 driven from the shaft 19 which vertically moves the stop frame, the speed of the cam shaft 61 being rotated at half the speed of 49. By this mechanism the stop frame will be oscillated first to one side and then to the other at the termination of successive downward movements of the knife, the movement being timed to occur when the stop frame is at the of the shingle block. The mechanism also provides for adjustment of the taper of the shingle to be cut in the attachment of the projections 59 which may be set to increase or decrease the throw of the lever arm 57. The provision for adjustment of the T lever 58 on the arm 57 also enables the feather edge of the shingle to be cut to the edge of the block.

It will be noticed that the engagement of the cam 60 with the downward projection 59 is such that it not only turns the stop frame but retains it in the required position until the time arrives for the reversal of the angle.

In order to free or clear the cut shingle from the neighborhood of the knife and deliver it onto the .chute which delivers it from the machine and also to free the neighborhood of the knife from any small frag ments of shingle or splinters of the wood a hinged flap 66 is provided the upper edge of which is just in front of the forward edge of the block slide 4 which flap is pivoted at 67 and has depending from its front edge a stirrup 68 by which. the flap is tilted when the knife is at the lower limit of its movement by the projecting end of the cross-head pin 51. lVith this provision as the knife 10 completes its stroke the pin 51 engages the stirrup (58 and sharply tilts the flap 66 to deliver the cut shingle and any fragments of splinters and deliver them onto the chute which carries them clear of the machine. The flap 66 may be counterweighted to hold it normally in the position of the full lines in Fig. 5 or may be provided with a spring 69 for that purpose.

The action of the machine may now be readily understood: A shingle block 5 having been thoroughly steamed to soften the fiber is placed upon the slide l and the after end of it is secured by means of the handle lever 28 between the knife grips 20, the feed frame being vertically movable that the block may be gripped toward the upper or lower edge as the conformation of the block may require and is counterbalanced to remain in the position at which it is set. The weight 32 will then, through the action of the parallel frame of the carriage to which it is connected, pull the face of the block against the stops 40 which it must be borne in mind move vertically with the knife blade so that they will be in position to act as stops when the knife blade is at its upward limit and clear of the block. The flexibility of the pin connected frame which carries the grips and through which the feed movement is imparted to the block is sufficient to permit the block to turn itself to the angle at which the stops are set.

As soon as the knife blade 10 commences its descent the stirrup 41 releases the Weighted lever 37 and the clamp bars 36 secure the feed frame during the remainder of the descent of the knife and until the knife frame again rises to the upper limit and the block must be advanced again against the stops the angle of which is reversed, for a fresh cut. During the descent of the knife the stops 40 move down with it so that the cut shingle is free to fall away from the knife and at the conclusion of the stroke the flap 66 is thrown quickly up delivering the cut shingle down the chute 65 and freeing the neighborhood of the stops of any splinters or small fragments detached from the shingle which might otherwise collect and impede the movement of the block 5 against the stops.

A practicable, serviceable machine is thus provided which will cut from a shingle block clean and serviceable shingles with out any loss in saw draft as where the shingles are cut by saws in the usual manner and the operation is automatic in that shingles will be continuously out until the block is used up, when another block can be quickly introduced and the work resumed.

The block is firmly held during the operation of cutting and the knife cutting always parallel to the shingle block support does not tend to tilt the block on its support if the under surface of the block should happen to be irregular.

The various parts of the machine are susceptible of adjustment to suit varying requirements in the size, thickness and taper of the shingles required.

Having now particularly described my invention and the manner of its operation, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination with a slideway along which the block is moved, and a knife carrying frame obliquely movable across the end of said slideway, means for moving said knife carrying frame, of stops independent of said knife carrying frame, means for moving said stops to regulate the thickness and taper of the shingles to be cut, and means for moving said stops vertically with the vertical component of the cut of the knife.

2. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination with a knife carrying frame and a knife blade and means for feeding a shingle block to it, a stop frame independent of said knife carrying frame against which the shingle block is held the upper end of which stop frame is adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife and downwardly movable with the knife blade.

3. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination with a knife carrying frame a knife blade carried by said knife carrying frame and means for moving said knife carrying frame to move said knife blade obliquely across the exposed face of a shingle block, a stop frame independent of said knife carrying frame for regulating the thickness of each side of the shingle said stop frame comprising rods vertically slidable adjacent to the plane of movement of the knife blade, means for vertically moving these rods that the ends of them may be always just in advance of the knife blade, and means for reversing at the lower end of its movement the angle of the stop frame in relation to the cutting plane of the knife.

4. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination. with a thin bladed knife mounted in a frame so as to move obliquely across the face of the shingle block with its edge substantially parallel to the support on which the block rests, means for advancing the shingle block, means for stopping such advance to cut the desired thickness and taper of the shingle and means for turning said stop to cut the thin edge of the shingle alternately from each side of the block.

5. In a. shingle cutting machine, the combination with a knife blade obliquely movable across the end of a slide over which the shingle block is fed, a stop frame comprising two rods connected together the required distance apart by a cross member which is itself vertically slidable on a column, a cross member mounted on the column on which it is susceptible of oscillation but not endwise movement through the ends of which cross member the stop rods are endwise movable, means for vertically moving the stop frames in a manner that will permit of angular movement of the frame on the column and means for oscillating the stop frame on the column.

6. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination with a knife carrying frame and a knife obliquely movable across the end of the slide over which the shingle block is fed with the cutting edge of the knife paraL lel to the upper surface of the shingle block slide, a stop frame comprising two rods connected together the required distance apart, means independent of the knife carrying frame for vertically moving the stop frame coincident with the vertical movement of the knife and means for reversing the angle of the stop frame in relation to the plane of the knife as the knife blade is toward the lower limit of its movement, and for retaining the stop frame in the said position during the upward and downward movement of the knife.

7 In a shingle outing machine, the combination with a slide plate having'an upwardly directed flange along one side along which slide the shingle block is fed, a grip for securing a hold of the back end of the block, means for applying a feed pressure through the grip to the block, a stop against which the shingle block is fed and a knife frame slidable diagonally across the face of the block said knife frame having a thin bladed knife the edge of which is parallel to the slide on which the block rests.

8. In a shingle cutting machine, the combination with an obliquely slidable knife frame, of means for holding the shingle during the cut and for feeding it to the knife blade said means comprising a flexible frame composed of pivotally connected parallel links, means for permitting the frame to vertically adjust itself and means for securing the upper end of it to the back edge of the shingle block, means for pressing the block uniformly toward the knife blade and means for locking the feed frame against the feed pressure.

9. In a shingle cutting. machine, the combination with an obliquely movable knife blade, a slideway over which the shingle block is fed to the knife blade, a feed frame through which pressure is applied to feed the shingle block to the knife said frame comprising an upper and lower rectangular plate, links pin-connected to each corner of these plates, to form a parallel frame, a central column on which the lower plate of the frame is vertically slidable, means for counterbalancing the weight of the frame and sustaining it on the column, a grip by which In testimony whereof I have signed my a shingle block may be secured to the upper name to this specification in the presence of 10 end of thehfrarine, means flor applying a prestWO subscribing Witnesses.

sure to t e rame tenc in t0 carr the shingle block toward the ki fe blade iileans CHARLES WVARWVIOK' for securing the block against movement WVitnesses: under said pressure, and means for releasing ROWLAND BRITTAIN, said securing means. ALEXANDER SMITH. 

